Aerosol actuator



Feb. 23, 1965 w. BOYER 3,170,606

AEROSOL ACTUATOR I Filed Jan. 31, 1962 I8 I I INVENTORV Ill|||||| W/LBUR 1.. BOYER W M M A TTORNEY- United States Patent 3,170,606 AEROSOL ACTUATOR Wilbur L. Boyer, Norristown, Pa., assignor to Corrosion Reaction Consultants, Inc.,;Phiiadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Jan. 31, 1962, Ser. No. 170,135 3 Claims. (Cl. 222-394) This invention relates to an aerosol actuator, and more particularly, to an aerosol container having a novel actuating mechanism.

In its simplest form, the actuating mechanism of the present invention includes a pivotable arm having a nozzleplate therein. The nozzleplate is adapted to be moved to a disposition wherein it is in abutting contact with an end of a discharge conduit on an aerosol container. Preferably, a nozzleplate is provided with a plurality of different orifices therein. The nozzleplate is preferably adjustably mounted so that any one of a variety of nozzle orifices may be placed in line with a discharge conduit on the aerosol container. In this manner, any one of a wide variety of discharge patterns may be obtained.

The actuating mechanism may be a separate discrete member, or may be an integral part of the aerosol container. That is, the manufacturer of aerosol containers may utilize the actuating mechanism of the present invention with the nozzleplate disposed in a predetermined position depending upon the material in the aerosol container. For example, if the material in the container is a room deodorant, the manufacturer will preset the nozzleplate so that the material is discharged in a fine spray. If the material to be dispensed is paint, the nozzleplate will be positioned in a location so that a nozzle orifice will provide a discharge pattern in the form of a mist. If the material to be dispensed is shaving cream, the nozzleplate will be positioned so that the material is discharged as a foam.

Hence, it will be seen that manufacturers of aerosol dispensers may materially simplify their inventory problems by utilizing a single nozzleplate which may be set in any one of a wide variety of positions. In each of the positions of the nozzleplate, an orifice will be located so that it will be in line with the outlet of a discharge conduit when it is desired to dispense material from the aerosol container. The nozzleplate may be removably mounted so that the discharge pattern may be varied as desired by the operator. Alternatively, the nozzleplate may be fixedly secured in a predetermined position as determined by the manufacturer of the aerosol container.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an aerosol container with a novel actuator mechanism.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an aerosol container with a novel actuator mechanism which may provide any one of a plurality of flow patterns for the material being discharged.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel actuator mechanism which permits any one of a variety of discharge flow patterns.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel actuator mechanism which may be utilized with any one of a wide variety of aerosol containers, thereby substantially decreasing the inventory problems of manufacturers.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a novel actuating mechanism which may be utilized with a variety of aerosol containers having materials which are to be dispensed with a varied discharge flow pattern.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a partial perspective view of an aerosol container having the actuator mechanism of the present the aerosol container.

FIGURE 5 is a partial sectional view of the actuating mechanism of another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown an aerosol actuator designated generally as 10.

The aerosol actuator'10 includes an aerosol container 12 of conventional construction except as will be made clear hereinafter. Hence, the aerosol container 12v contains a liquid which is adapted to be selectively dispensed. The container 12 is provided with a discharge conduit 14. It will be noted that the discharge conduit 14 extends in an axial direction and extends beyond one end of the container 12. The end of the conduit 14 which is not shown is adapted to cooperate a conventional valve mechanism. When the conduit 14 is depressed in an axial direction, a valve is unseated and material to be dispensed in permitted to flow through the conduit 14 under pressure. I

An actuator mechanism is provided to permit selective actuation of the conduit 14. Such mechanism includes a baseplate 16 having a central hole 15 through which the conduit 14 extends. The baseplate 16 is secured to the container 12 by a plurality of spring fingers 18 which snap around a lip or head 26) at the upper end of the container 12. The fingers 18 facilitate detachment of the baseplate 16 with respect to the container 12.

The actuating mechanism includes an upright wall 22 which is integral with the baseplate 16. The mechanism also includes an actuator arm 24 having one end integral with the wall 221. The arm 24 extends across a central portion of the baseplate 16 in cantilever fashion. The arm 24 and wall 22 are made from resilient spring metal so that the arm 24 remains in the angled disposition as shown in FIGURE 3 due'to the inherent resiliency of the metal or plastic material from which it is made.

If the actuator mechanism is applied to the container 12 by the manufacturer thereof, the baseplate 16 and fingers 18 may be eliminated. That is, the end of the wall 22 remote from the arm 24 may be fixedly secured to the top wall of the container 12 in any conventional manner.

The end of the arm 24 remote from the wall 22 is provided with a knurled section 26. The knurled section 26 is the portion of the arm which is contacted by a persons finger or the like when it is desired to move the arm to a dispensing position. The arm 24 is provided with an enlarged hole 28 therethrough The arm 24 is provided with a radially inwardly directed flange 30 which provides a seat for a nozzleplate 32. The nozzleplate- 32 is preferably circular asillustrated, but may be rectangular if desired. As shown more clearly in FIGURES 1', 2 and 4,the plate 32 is provided with a plurality of recesses 34. The depth of the recesses 34 is substantially less than the thickness of'the plate 32.

As shown more clearly in FIGURESI and :2, the, plate.

32 is provided with a plurality of different nozzle orifices 36, 38, 40 and 42. The nozzle orifices are circumfercontainers and only vary the nozzleplate 32 depending upon the type of discharge pattern desired.

The plate 32 is selectively retained in a predetermined position by means of two tabs 44. Each tab 44 has one end 46 which is. adapted to be disposed within the juxtaposed. recess in the plate 32. The thickness of the tab 44 corresponds with the depth of the recess 34. The

other end of the tabs 44 have a hole therein through which a screw 48 extends. cooperate with internal threads .ona hole in the arm 24. The screws v48 may be selectively loosened and the plate 32rotated to a disposition wherein the' preselected orifice such as orifice 38 is to the left of the center of the plate 32 in FIGURE 2. Thereafter, pressure may be applied on the knurled section 26 to pivot the arm 24 to the disposition illustrated in FIGURE 4. In doing so, it will be noted that the orifice 38 will be in line with the end of the discharge conduit 14. The plate 32 will abut such end of conduit 14 and cause the conduit 14 to reciprocate in the direction of the arrow illustrated in FIGURE 4. After the conduit 14 is reciprocated in saiddirection for a sufficient distance to cause avalve to unseat; the material 459 will discharge from the container 12 in the flow pattern illustrated.

If a different flow pattern is desired, the screws 48 are loosened and the plate 32 rotated toa position whereinanoth'er one of the orifices is positioned so that it may be inline with the end of the discharge conduit 14 when the arm 24 is in the position illustrated in FIGURE, 4;

V mounting of the plate 32'on the arm 24. The embodiment-in FIGURE provides a plate which is permanentlyprepositioned on the arm by the manufacturer thereof.

Asshown more clearly in FIGURE 5, the arm 24' is provided wtih a' hole terminating at'a radially inwardly directed flange 39 in the same manner as described above. The plate 32'Iis supported bythe flange 30' in the same manner as described above. The plate 32 is provided with a-plurality'of orifices such as orifice 36' and orifice 38.- The' plate 32 is provided with recesses 34- which are identical with therecesses 34. Hence, it will be noted that the plate 32 is identical with the plate 32.

The arm 24' is provided'witha pair of recesses 54 which extend radially'outwardly from the hole in the arm 24' The recesses 54 receive one end 52 of'a L-shaped member 50. The other end 56 of the member St) is adapted'to be bent to a disposition wherein it lies inthe recess 34'. Hence, the pltae 32' will be fixedly secured to the arm 24 by means of a Z-shaped member as shown If desired, a .detent 'The'screw 48 is adapted to it 3. When it is desired to dispense material, pressure is applied on the knurled section 26 thereby pivoting the arm 24 to the disposition illustrated in FIG. 4. When the dispensing action has been accomplished, pressure is relieved on the knurledsection 26 thereby enabling the arm to pivot to the inoperative disposition illustrated in FIGURE 3. i

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms Withoutdeparting from the spirit oressential attributes'thereof and, accordingly, referenceshould be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. An article of manufacture comprising an aerosol container having a discharge conduit, an actuator for said conduit, said actuator being mounted upon said container, said actuator including a pivotably mounted arm, a nozzle plate supported by said arm, said nozzle plate having a plurality of orifices circumferentially disposed on said plate, each orifice having an end which has a diameter at least as great as the ID. diameter of said conduit, said arm being mounted for pivotable movement through a range between first and second positions, a portion of said arm abutting an end of said conduit andone of said orifices being inline with'said end of said conduit in the first position of said arm, means biasing said arm to its second positionwherein said" arm and said oneorifice are spaced from-said conduit, and means mounting said plate on said arm so that each 'of theorifices may be selectively disposed for cooperationwith said conduit,

whereby a variety of flow discharge patterns may be selectively obtained.

2. An article of manufacture comprising an aerosol actuator, a base plate connected to said actuator, said base plate being-adapted to be secured to an aerosol container, means defining an aperture in. said base plate through which a conduit on an aerosol container may extend,

said actuator'including an arm mounted for pivotabie' movement toward and away from the plane of said base plate between first and second positions, means biasing said arm to said second position, a nozzle plate, means removably securing said plate to said'arm, said plate being provided with a plurality of circumferentially' disposed orifices, and said arm having a hole therethrough,

a radially inwardly directed flange on said arm, said nozzleplate being supported in said hole onsaid flange, one of said orifices being adapted to be in a dispensing position for cooperation with a conduit on a container when said arm is in itsfirst position, and said arm being closer to the plane of said base plate when said arm is in its first position.

5. An article of manufacturecomprising an aerosol actuator, a'base plate connected to said actuator, said base plate being adapted to be secured to an aerosol con tainer, means defining an aperture in said base plate through which a conduit on an aerosol container may extend, said actuator including an arm, means supporting a one end of said .arm on said base plate in cantileverfashion in overlying relationship to said base plate at an angle with respect to the plane thereof, said arm having a nozzle orifice, said support means mounting said arm for pivotable movement toward and away from the plane ofsaid base plate between first and second positions, said URE 5 enables the manufacturer to utilize the same plate whileproviding a device which is selectively preset to providea predetermined discharge pattern.

T heconstruction of the container 12 and the valve responsive toreciprocation of the conduit 14, per se, form no part of the presentinvention. Hence, it is not deemed necessary to describe'these features in detail. From the support means biasing said arm to said second'pos'ition wherein said arm extends at an angle with respect to the plane ofsaid base plate, said orificeand said arm being adapted to be ,ina dispensing position for cooperation with a conduit on a container when said arm is in its first position, and said arm being closer to the plane of said baseplate when said arm is in its first position, said support means including a resilient wall directly connecting-the one end of said arm to one end of said base plate, said base plate being provided with resilient fingers adapted to be secured/to an end of an aerosol container,

said fingers extending. downwardly and radially in- 5 6 wardly from said base plate so as to be adapted to en- 3,045,930 7/62 Rudd 239579 gage a bead on the upper end of the container. 3,089,625 5/63 Sorber et a1. 222--509 X References Cited by the Examiner 6 6 PATENTS 5 3 6,62 2 32 reat Britam. 2 746 797 STATES PATENTS 8 ,697 12/36 Switzerland. 217651965 10/56 2312; RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner.

2,948,595 8/60 Orr. LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Examiner. 

1. AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE COMPRISING AN AEROSOL CONTAINER HAVING A DISCHARGE CONDUCIT, AN ACTUATOR FOR SAID CONDUIT, SAID ACTUATOR BEING MOUNTED UPON SAID CONTAINER, SAID ACTUATOR INCLUDING A PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ARM, A NOZZLE PLATE SUPPORTED BY SAID ARM, SAID NOZZLE PLATE HAVING A PLURALITY OF ORFICES CIRCUMFERENTIALLY DISPOSED ON SAID PLATE, EACH ORIFICE HAVING AN END WHICH HAS A DIAMETER AT LEAST AS GREAT AS THE I.D. DIAMETER OF SAID CONDUIT, SAID ARM BEING MOUNTED FOR PIVOTABLE MOVEMENT THROUGH A RANGE BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS, A PORTION OF SAID ARM ABUTTING AN END OF SAID CONDUIT AND ONE OF SAID ORIFICES BEING IN LINE WITH SAID END OF SAID CONDUIT IN THE FIRST POSITION OF SAID ARM, MEANS BIASING SAID ARM TO ITS SECOND POSITION WHEREIN SAID ARM AND SAID ONE ORIFICE ARE SPACED FROM SAID CONDUIT, AND MEANS MOUNTING SAID PLATE ON SAID ARM SO THAT EACH OF THE ORFICES MAY BE SELECTIVELY DISPOSED FOR COOPERATION WITH SAID CONDUIT, WHEREBY A VARIETY OF FLOW DISCHARGE PATTERNS MAY BE SELECTIVELY OBTAINED. 